lice." One appeared just then in the lane, but the girls
appeared to be in no hurry to tell him, but I rose, they wheeled off the
barrow as fast as they could, I walking with them. I was a little afraid
of the policeman.

We had got to a spot where the lane was crossed by a village-road in
which were many good houses. "Oh! pray leave us, we go down here, we
have customers in the road." "Will you meet me?" "Yes,--but don't follow
us." I did not want to be seen, so we parted, after some arrangements
about meeting.

CHAPTER IX.

Returning home.--In the church-yard.--Two female laborers.--
Among the tombs.--A sudden piss.--An arse on the weeds.--
Torn trowsers, and a turd.--In front of the public-house.

They went off, I crossed the road into the churchyard, through its
posts at the entrance to prevent cattle passing, and over which with
difficulty the girls had got their barrow and baskets. It was a huge
churchyard, half of it mere field; at one end the rich were buried,
and there were rows of tombs and monuments, the rest was only partially
filled with tomb-stones of all sizes. As I entered it two women passed
me; they were tall, stout, and dusty, had very short petticoats, and
thick hob-nailed boots, dark-blue dresses hung over big haunches, little
black shawls no larger than handkerchiefs over their backs. They had
big black bonnets cocked right upon the tops of their heads, and seemed
women who worked out of doors, agricultural laborers perhaps, or perhaps
the wives of bargemen, for there was a canal through the village. They
had the strong steady walk, and the body well balanced from the hips
that you see in woman engaged in outdoor occupations; perhaps they
carried strawberries to the London markets in large baskets on their
heads, and they walked as firmly as soldiers.

They went past me towards the monuments, both looked at me, and they
quickened their pace as they went off. I was dying with want of a fuck.
"They are going to piss," I thought. I knew the spot. We when boys,
and I when a youth years before, had laid in wait to see nursemaids and
their little charges turn up among the tombs to ease themselves, so I
stopped and looked after them.

They heard my footsteps cease, turned round, looked at me, and walked on
again. I followed slowly, they walked slower, so did I; they stopped,
so did I; one turned round. "Well young man, what do you want following
us?" This abashed me for the ins